Carpet Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

A carpet cleaning device includes a rigid liquid lifting sheet that includes a top surface and, opposed, a bottom surface which together extend laterally to side edges and longitudinally from a proximal portion having a liquid lifting edge, to a distal portion that is spaced from the proximal portion. The liquid lifting edge extends laterally between the side edges in an angled configuration that includes at least one vertex which is longitudinally forward of adjacent portions of the liquid lifting edge. A liquid receiver is positioned to receive the liquid that is lifted from the carpet by the liquid lifting edge and the rigid liquid lifting sheet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application for a utility patent claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 63/147,085, filed Feb. 8, 2021.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to carpet cleaning devices, and moreparticularly to a carpet cleaning device that can quickly and easilylift spilled liquids from a carpet.

Description of Related Art

When a liquid spills on a carpeted surface, it can be difficult toclean. Prior art methods typically require the use of an absorbent sheet(e.g., a towel, paper towels, etc.) to try to mop it up or try to pressdown (or sometimes rub down or rub off) on the spill to soak up thespill. In so doing, some of the spilled liquid may be lifted up but someof the liquid would actually be pushed down into the carpet fibers,embedded on the bottom, making the stain more permanent, and moredifficult to remove in the future.

While this application refers specifically to liquids, the same is trueof equivalent materials, such as dirt, powders, excrement, and the like.When a powder is spilled, an attempt to scoop up the powder with a dryor a wet towel may remove much of the spill, but the attempt would alsopush the spilled powder between the fibers, to be lodged at the bottom.Such lodged liquid or powder deep inside the carpet fibers or below thefibers are very difficult to be removed and even become permanent as thetime goes on.

Vacuums are not always the best at removing liquids because the vacuumforce is often not enough to penetrate under the carpet layers into thepad of the carpet. The pad is an absorbent sponge-like padding which isplaced under carpet to make the carpet pleasant to walk on. The carpetcleaning device of this invention applies a pressure which depresses thepad to lift liquids from the pad and allow the removal of the liquid.Vacuums are not effective at this task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and usewhich give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a carpet cleaning device for lifting aliquid from a carpet. The carpet cleaning device includes a rigid liquidlifting sheet that includes a top surface and, opposed, a bottom surfacewhich together extend laterally to side edges and longitudinally from aproximal portion having a liquid lifting edge, to a distal portion thatis spaced from the proximal portion. The liquid lifting edge extendslaterally between the side edges in an angled configuration thatincludes at least one vertex which is longitudinally forward of adjacentportions of the liquid lifting edge. A liquid receiver is positioned toreceive the liquid that is lifted from the carpet by the liquid liftingedge and the rigid liquid lifting sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carpet cleaning device according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carpet cleaning device, illustratinga cover housing mounted thereupon and in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1,illustrating the cover housing in a closed configuration.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view illustrating the carpet cleaning deviceof FIGS. 1-3 being used to pick up a liquid from a carpet.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the carpet cleaning device ofFIG. 1, illustrating a two-part construction of the carpet cleaningdevice in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of another embodiment of a liquid liftingedge that may be incorporated into the carpet cleaning device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a carpetcleaning device for lifting a liquid from a carpet.

A FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carpet cleaning device 10 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, thecarpet cleaning device 10 includes a rigid liquid lifting sheet 20 thatincludes a top surface 22 and, opposed, a bottom surface 24 whichtogether extend laterally to side edges 26 and longitudinally from aproximal portion 28 having a liquid lifting edge 30, to a distal portion32 that is spaced from the proximal portion 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid lifting edge 30 extends laterally betweenthe side edges 26 in an angled configuration (not straight), which isdiscussed in greater detail below. The angled configuration includes atleast one vertex 34 which is longitudinally forward of adjacent portions36 of the liquid lifting edge 30. When the carpet cleaning device 10 ismoved in the longitudinal direction during use (as shown in FIG. 4), thevertex 34 functions to penetrate through the carpet, as discussed ingreater detail below. The angled configuration in this case istriangular, but curved or other shapes are also possible, as discussedbelow.

The carpet cleaning device 10 further includes a liquid receiver 38 isin operative association with the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20 toreceive any liquid (reference 12, as shown in FIG. 4) that is liftedfrom the carpet 14 (reference 12, as shown in FIG. 4) by the liquidlifting edge 30 and the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20. In thisembodiment, the liquid receiver 38 is in the form of a reservoir tankmounted adjacent the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20 opposite the liquidlifting edge 30, the reservoir tank having an opening 40 operablypositioned adjacent to a distal end 32 of the rigid liquid lifting sheet20. The opening 40 may be at least partially surrounded by a surroundingwall 42 that extends upwardly around the opening 40 to help preventspills.

In this embodiment, the proximal portion 28 of the rigid liquid liftingsheet 20 is generally planar, for getting under the liquid, and thedistal portion 32 is angled upwardly so that the liquid is lifted to theliquid receiver 38. Obviously alternative structures may be used inalternative embodiments, and these alternative or equivalentconfigurations should be considered within the scope of the presentinvention.

In this embodiment, the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20 includes guidesidewalls 43 that extend upwardly from the side edges 26 to guide theliquid to the liquid receiver 38. In this embodiment, the guidesidewalls 43 may include a pivot mounting mechanism 44 such as a pivotpin that may be used for mounting a cover housing 50 (shown in FIGS.2-4, and discussed in greater detail below). A locking mechanism 46 maybe used to lock the cover housing 50 in different positions, alsodiscussed below in more detail.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20 furtherincludes at least one flange 48 extending upwardly from the top surface22 of the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20, between the side edges. The atleast one flange 48 is disposed longitudinally along the rigid liquidlifting sheet 20 and extends to the liquid lifting edge 30. In thisembodiment, the at least one flange 48 includes a plurality of flanges(in this case, three) that are parallel to one another. The flange(s) 48serve the strengthen the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20 to enable the useof force to drive the liquid lifting edge 30 into the carpet, and alsoserve to direct the liquid to the liquid receiver 38.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carpet cleaning device 10,illustrating a cover housing 50 mounted thereupon and in an openconfiguration. FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 3-3in FIG. 1, illustrating the cover housing 50 in a closed configuration.As shown in FIG. 2, the cover housing 50 is initially attached via thepivot mounting mechanism 44. In the open configuration shown in FIG. 2,the liquid receiver 38 may be easily emptied and rinsed clean.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the closed configuration, the carpet cleaningdevice 10 is configured for use in lifting a spilled liquid from acarpet. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover housing 50 includes a curved rearstructure 52 that is curved to provide a comfortable rest for a user'shand while he or she is driving the device 10 into the carpet andforwards (as shown in FIG. 4). The device 10 may also be used in theopposite direction, by pulling the device 10 towards the user. The coverhousing 50 extends forward to an arched portion 54 that spans the rigidliquid lifting sheet 20 for allowing the liquid into the rigid liquidlifting sheet 20.

Also shown in FIG. 3, the liquid lifting edge 30 in this embodiment maybe angled downwardly in the direction of the bottom surface 24 of therigid liquid lifting sheet 20, to enhance penetration into the carpetfor the purposes of getting under and lifting the liquid being removedfrom the carpet, as shown in FIG. 4. While one embodiment of the liquidlifting edge 30 is shown, alternative configurations may also be used,and such alternatives should be considered within the scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view illustrating the carpet cleaning device10 of FIG. 3 being used to pick up a liquid 12 from a carpet 14. Asshown in FIG. 4, the curved rear structure 52 provides a suitablesurface for the user to push the carpet cleaning device 10 in thedownward and forward motion necessary so that the liquid lifting edge 30is able to lift the liquid 12 from the carpet 14. The vertex 34functions to penetrate the carpet 14, as noted above, so that thismovement is possible.

Once the liquid 12 has been lifted from the carpet 14 and is on therigid liquid lifting sheet 20, the carpet cleaning device 10 is rotatedso that the liquid lifting edge 30 rises relative to the liquid receiver38, so that the liquid 12 flows down the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20and into the liquid receiver 38 where it is safely stored pendingdisposal.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the carpet cleaning device 10of FIG. 1, illustrating a two-part construction of the carpet cleaningdevice 10 in one embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment of FIG.5, the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20 is attached to a mounting plate 60that extends from the liquid receiver 38. The mounting plate 60 includesa fastening mechanism 62, in this case prongs that lock into receivers64 of the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20. The mounting plate 60 mayfurther include an aperture 66 that receives a protrusion 68 thatextends from the bottom surface 24 of the rigid liquid lifting sheet 20,for providing a more physically secure interlocking structure. Whilethis two part construction is currently used, those skilled in the artmay devise alternative constructions, and these alternatives orequivalent constructions should be considered within the scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a liquid lifting edgethat may be incorporated into the carpet cleaning device of FIG. 1. Asshown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment the liquid lifting edge 30 mayinclude a plurality of vertices 30, with angled or curved edgedextending backwards from each vertex 30. While one alternative shape isshown, those skilled in the art may device many alternative shapesconsistent with the teachings of the present invention, and should beconsidered within the scope of the present invention.

The title of the present application, and the claims presented, do notlimit what may be claimed in the future, based upon and supported by thepresent application. Furthermore, any features shown in any of thedrawings may be combined with any features from any other drawings toform an invention which may be claimed.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are definedto include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically statedotherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean+/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,”“contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unlessspecifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in thespecification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/orequivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would beconsidered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of thepresent patent application. While the invention has been described withreference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearlyunderstood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, butrather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carpet cleaning device for lifting a liquidfrom a carpet, the carpet cleaning device comprising: a rigid liquidlifting sheet that includes a top surface and, opposed, a bottom surfacewhich together extend laterally to side edges and longitudinally from aproximal portion having a liquid lifting edge, to a distal portion thatis spaced from the proximal portion; wherein the liquid lifting edgeextends laterally between the side edges in an angled configuration thatincludes at least one vertex which is longitudinally forward of adjacentportions of the liquid lifting edge; and a liquid receiver that receivesthe liquid that is lifted from the carpet by the liquid lifting edge andthe rigid liquid lifting sheet.
 2. The carpet cleaning device of claim1, wherein the leading edge is angled downwardly in the direction of thebottom surface of the rigid liquid lifting sheet.
 3. The carpet cleaningdevice of claim 1, further comprising at least one flange extendingupwardly from the top surface of the rigid liquid lifting sheet, the atleast one flange being disposed longitudinally and extending to theliquid lifting edge.
 4. The carpet cleaning device of claim 3, whereinthe at least one flange includes a plurality of flanges that areparallel to one another.
 5. The carpet cleaning device of claim 1,wherein the liquid lifting edge includes a single vertex, and theadjacent portions are angled to form a triangular shape.
 6. The carpetcleaning device of claim 1, wherein the liquid lifting edge includes aplurality of vertices.
 7. The carpet cleaning device of claim 1, whereinthe liquid receiver is in the form of a reservoir tank mounted adjacentthe rigid liquid lifting sheet opposite the liquid lifting edge, thereservoir tank having an opening operably positioned adjacent to adistal end of the rigid liquid lifting sheet.
 8. A carpet cleaningdevice for lifting a liquid from a carpet, the carpet cleaning devicecomprising: a rigid liquid lifting sheet that includes a top surfaceand, opposed, a bottom surface which together extend laterally to sideedges and longitudinally from a proximal portion having a liquid liftingedge, to a distal portion that is spaced from the proximal portion;wherein the liquid lifting edge extends laterally between the side edgesin an angled configuration that includes at least one vertex which islongitudinally forward of adjacent portions of the liquid lifting edge;at least one flange extending upwardly from the top surface of the rigidliquid lifting sheet, the at least one flange being disposedlongitudinally and extending to the liquid lifting edge; and a liquidreceiver that receives the liquid that is lifted from the carpet by theliquid lifting edge and the rigid liquid lifting sheet.
 9. The carpetcleaning device of claim 8, wherein the leading edge is angleddownwardly in the direction of the bottom surface of the rigid liquidlifting sheet.
 10. The carpet cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the atleast one flange includes a plurality of flanges that are parallel toone another.
 11. The carpet cleaning device of claim 8, wherein theliquid lifting edge includes a single vertex, and the adjacent portionsare angled to form a triangular shape.
 12. The carpet cleaning device ofclaim 8, wherein the liquid lifting edge includes a plurality ofvertices.
 13. The carpet cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the liquidreceiver is in the form of a reservoir tank mounted adjacent the rigidliquid lifting sheet opposite the liquid lifting edge, the reservoirtank having an opening operably positioned adjacent to a distal end ofthe rigid liquid lifting sheet.